Residents of 3 Amherst streets demand that motorists slow down

AMHERST - Lawn signs went up today, and residents on Fearing Street and Lincoln and Sunset avenues hope that a rally on Friday will further get the message out: Slow down in the neighborhood.

Residents in the area have repeatedly asked officials to deal with speeding cars and increased traffic. The speed limit on the roads is 30 miles an hour.

Many motorists use the roadways from Route 9 to go straight to the University of Massachusetts, in part to avoid downtown traffic and University Drive, which has several crosswalks that slow travel.

Last year, town officials placed temporary speed cushions on Lincoln Avenue in an attempt to slow vehicles. But residents said that nothing has happened since.

"I give the town credit for the approach we took last fall," said Philip S. Jackson of Lincoln Avenue this week. But, he said, "It's a year later, (and)nothing has happened."

While he believes that town officials plan to meet with residents later this month, they felt they would launch their own campaign.

Jackson said they have converted 30 Realtor lawn signs to read "30 miles per hour, thanks" and "go slow, thank you." The signs will remain up until Saturday.

He said the traffic does seem to have slowed.

Jackson said the residents are asking neighbors, children, and pets to gather on Lincoln Avenue and Fearing Street on Friday at 4 p.m., wearing bright colors "so we can drive home the message." After that, he said, "that will be the end of our ranger games."

He said, "I'm tired of waiting for Godot," referring to a town solution. "I figured school was starting, there must be something to do while we're waiting. Hopefully, we will give drivers something to think about. It's better than nothing. We're trying to take responsibility on our end."

Town Manager Laurence R. Shaffer said, "We're trying to get a meeting scheduled with the neighborhood as soon as we possibly can. Presumably, it will be in September."

He said officials will review data to see "what options might be available."